Forearm Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

Herein described is an exercise device used to build strength in the wrist, arm, or forearm of the user. The device has two opposing grips and a tension means for generating resistance such that when the user rotates the grips the user works the muscles in the wrist, forearm, and arm. The device herein described may be portable or free standing. The exercise device furthermore contains a means for convenient and efficient adjustment of tension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an exercise device designed to improvestrength of the muscles in the forearms.

In baseball, the speed of the bat head and keeping the bat on planethrough the hitting zone is crucial for making good contact with abaseball, hitting the baseball with power, and controlling hittingdirection if necessary. The same is true for other sports that involveswinging an object such as a racket, club, or stick e.g., the rackethead in tennis, club head in golf, and the hockey stick in hockey. It isaxiomatic that the bat head will take the proper path with superiorspeed only if there is sufficient strength in the hands, wrists, andforearms to keep the bat on plane. However, while critical, the musclescontained in these areas either receive little attention or are ignoredby contemporary training regimens.

There are four types of muscles in the forearm: wrist flexors (wrist andgrip strength), forearm flexors (wrist and grip strength), extensormuscles (elbow and wrist rotation) and brachioradialis (flex the forearmat elbow). Some training exercises such as climbing and rope pulling arehelpful to strengthen wrist flexors, forearm flexors, and extensormuscles, but they do not strengthen the brachioradialis. Barbells targetthe wrist flexors, forearm flexors, and the brachioradialis to a verylimited extent. Similarly, typical wrist rollers only target the forearmflexors and to a limited extent, the brachioradialis Grip devices onlytarget the forearm flexors with partial engagement of the wrist flexor.

What is needed is a portable device or semi portable device that islight weight, easy to use and disassemble, provides consistent tensionor resistance, and provides a total workout of all the muscle groups inthe forearm, including the wrist flexor, forearm flexor, extensor andbrachioradialis. What is also needed is an exercise device that providestension consistency between forward and backward rotation of hand grips,convenient tension adjustment without the need of a special tool fordoing so, as well as rapid interchangeability of parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a fully assembled portable exercise device;

FIG. 2 shows a fully assembled portable exercise device with the housingremoved and tension means exposed to view;

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are close up depictions of an embodiment of anassembled and disassembled portable exercise device respectively;

FIG. 4 shows how a user operates the portable exercise device;

FIG. 5 shows a fully assembled standing exercise device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an exercise device designed to improve strength of the musclesin the forearms. In one embodiment, the exercise device is portable. Theforearm exercise device may be comprised of a first grip assembly, asecond grip assembly and a tension means. In one embodiment, the tensionmeans comprises a threaded rod, a first washer, a second washer, a firsthub, and a second hub. In one embodiment the tension means is encased inhousing between two opposing grips. The threaded rod may comprisedifferent groove ratios. In one embodiment, the threaded rod has agroove ratio of about 12 to about 20 grooves per inch. In anotherembodiment, the groove ration is about 16 grooves per inch. The firstand second washers may be made materials including nylon.

In the portable forearm exercise device, the user may rotate the gripsto adjust the tension of the mechanism. Once the tension is adjustedaccording to preference, the user applies force to the grips rotatingthe grips back and forth applying stress to the muscles of the forearms.

In another embodiment, the exercise device is a free-standing device.The free-standing forearm exercise device comprises two opposing handgrips and a tension means. The user adjusts the tension of the device topreference adding or removing weights on a weight support as needed. Theweight support is attached to a line or chord, which is fed throughpulleys and down to a grip/shaft assembly. In one embodiment, the chordis wrapped around a drum centrally located on the grip/shaft assembly.The user rotates the grips one at a time in a forward motion, wrappingthe cord around the drum, and elevating the weight support with eachturn.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the description of the representative embodiments givenherein. However, it should be understood that the description andspecific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, a fully assembledportable exercise device 1 is shown to comprise a first grip assembly 2and second grip assembly 3. Each grip assembly comprises a first andsecond grip (4 and 5) and a first and second hub (6 and 7). The grips 4and 5 may be made of any durable material known to those of skill in theart that is strong enough to withstand the tension or force applied bythe user without bend or break. For example, the grips may be made ofrigid materials such as steel, plastic, rubber, or the like, as long asthe grips are sufficiently strong and resistant to breaking.

The grip assembly may be manufactured as one piece or separatecomponents. For example, if manufactured as separate components, grips(4 and 5) must be secured to hubs (6 and 7) upon assembly. In thismanner, the grips may be connected to hubs 6 and 7 by weld, bolt, screw,pin, lug, rivet or any other means known to those of skill in the art.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the grips 4 and 5 are attachedto the hubs 6 and 7 by weld joint.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a tension means 8 is encased ina housing 9. FIG. 2 is an alternative view of FIG. 1 with the housing 9removed to illustrate the positioning of the tension means in anassembled portable exercise device. In this embodiment, housing 9 iscylindrical and completely encases tension means 8 concealing itscomponents from view. FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are close up depictions of anembodiment of an assembled and disassembled portable exercise devicerespectively. An embodiment of the tension means 8 is shown clearly inFIG. 3. FIG. 3(B) depicts a threaded rod 10 affixed to first gripassembly 2 so that first grip 4 cannot rotate without also rotating thethreaded rod 10. In this embodiment, threaded rod 10, hub 6 and grip 4are manufactured as one piece; however, these components are notrequired to be manufactured as one piece and may be manufactured andassembled individually.

Threaded rod 10 is inserted through a first washer 11 wherein firstwasher 11 engages and rests upon hub 6. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 3, threaded rod 10 is inserted through a compression spring 12wherein compression spring 12 engages and is sandwiched between firstwasher 11 and second washer 13, which are positioned at opposite ends ofcompression spring 12. First washer 11 and second washer 13 may be madeof any material known to those of skill in the art that would allow thethreaded rod to easily pass through first washer 11, compression spring12, second washer 13, and into hub 7, as described more fully below,without bind. For example, first washer 11 and second washer 13 may bemade of nylon or Teflon. Threaded rod 10 engages hub 7, which in thisembodiment comprises interior grooves that match the threads of threadedrod 10. Insertion of threaded rod 10 into hub 7 and rotation of grip 4and threaded rod 10 in a clockwise direction compresses the compressionspring 12 resulting in increased rotational tension of the device.

Compression spring 12 is conveniently replaceable if one desires more orless tension. For example, a user only has to disassemble the portableexercise device by rotating grip 4 and thereby the threaded rod 10counterclockwise causing threaded rod 10 to back out of and disengagehub 7. Once the threaded rod disengages the hub 7 and second washer 13removed, compression spring 12 can be removed as well. Anothercompression spring of a different compression rate may then be placedonto threaded rod 10 and the process reversed to assemble the mechanismagain. This can be done in a matter of seconds.

The threads on threaded rod 10 may be any direction: right handed, lefthanded or both. Right hand threads are configured so that clockwiserotation tightens the threaded rod to a fastener. Alternatively, lefthand threads are configured so that counterclockwise rotation tightensthe threaded rod to a fastener. A threaded rod with both right handthreads and left hand threads have right threads at one end of the rod,and left threads at the opposite end. The threaded rod 10 may be made ofany material or alloy so long as it is strong and durable, such assteel, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, brass, bronze, siliconbronze, copper, or proprietary alloys such as Inconel® and Incoloy®.Metallic threaded rods can be anodized, treated with black oxide, chromegalvanized, phosphate coated, or plated with silver, gold, tin, zinc, orzinc chromate. Non-metallic threaded rod can be made of plastic,fiber-reinforced plastic, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), orsynthetic rubber.

In one embodiment, the threads or grooves of threaded rod 10 aredistributed in such a manner as to decrease any variance in tensionbetween turns of the grips 4 and 5 and compression of the compressionspring 9 and generate a consistent tension force for the user. In oneembodiment, a threaded rod with a groove ratio between about 12 to about20 grooves per inch is suitable for the purpose of the presentinvention. In another embodiment, the proper groove ratio of thethreaded rod is between about 14 to about 18 grooves per inch. In yetanother embodiment, the proper groove ratio is about 16 grooves perinch.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in operation of one embodiment of the presentinvention, the user places his or her hands on a fully assembledportable exercise device 1 with or without housing 9, adjusts thetension of the device to the proper level by rotating either grip 4 orgrip 5 in a clockwise direction, and then begins to rotate the hands andgrips 4 and 5 backwards and forwards in opposing directions. The tensionof the device works the hand, wrist, and forearm muscles predominantly,but also works additional muscles depending on the position of thedevice and how it is used.

Referring now to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, a free standingexercise device 14 to improve the strength of the hands, wrists, andforearms will be described herein. The exercise device 14 comprises twoopposing handles or grips 15 and 16 connected by shaft 17. The grips 15and 16 may be made of any durable material known to those of skill inthe art that is strong enough to withstand the tension or force appliedby the user without breaking. For example, the grips may be made ofsteel, plastic, rubber, or the like, as long as the grips aresufficiently strong and resistant to breaking. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 5, the grips 15 and 16 are manufactured out of steel.The shaft 17 comprises an external shaft 18 and 19 and an internal shaft20. The grips 15 and 16 are affixed to external shaft 18 and 19respectively, by any means known in the art, including weld, screw,bolt, pin, cable, dowel, lug, rivet and the like. Alternatively, thegrips 15 and 16 and the external shaft 18 and 19 respectively may bemanufactured as a single piece.

The external shafts 18 and 19 are affixed to internal shaft 20 by anymeans or method available and known to those of skill in the art, suchthat little to no independent rotation or movement as between externalshafts 18 and 19 and internal shaft 20 is possible. Centrally locatedalong the internal shaft 20 comprises a drum 21 designed to receive apulley line, cable, rope, or chord around its circumference as will beexplained in greater detail below. The internal shaft 20 may be composedof any material available durable enough to withstand the tensionapplied to the structure without giving or breaking. The material usedmay be the same as the material used to manufacture the external shafts18 and 19 or alternatively it may be the same. Alternatively, the grip(15 and 16), internal 20, and external shaft (18 and 19) assembly 22 maybe manufactured as a single piece and made of the same material.

As explained in greater detail below, the height of the grip, internal,and external shaft assembly 22 may be adjusted on the free standingexercise device 14 for users of different height to use comfortably orfor use while sitting down. This will be beneficial to athletes who havedisabilities and are confined to wheelchairs.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the assembly 22 is affixed to a standingframe 23 by perpendicular supports 24 and 25 and parallel support 26.The standing frame 23 comprises vertical support members (27, 28, 29,and 30) and a base support member 31. Pulleys (32 and 33) are mounted tothe standing frame 23 via top support 34 for receiving line 35. Weightsupport 36 is attached to line 35. The weight support 36 depicted inFIG. 5 is engineered to receive barbell or plate weights, but persons ofordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that any objectof appropriate weight will be sufficient, and indeed may be attacheddirectly to line 35 without use of weight support 36. Line 35 is fedthrough pulleys 32 and 33 and around drum 21.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in operation of one embodiment of the presentinvention, as the user applies force to grips (15 and 16), assembly 22and thus drum 21 rotates wrapping line 35 around the circumference ofdrum 21. For smooth rotation of assembly 22, perpendicular supports 24and 25 may contain bearings, grease, or some other means known to thoseof skill in the art to reduce friction from rotation. As the usercontinues to rotate assembly 22, the weight support 36 may be lifted orelevated until the weight support 35 reaches pulley 32 and is prohibitedfrom elevating further.

A variety of materials may be incorporated into the construction ofportable exercise device 1 and standing exercise device 14. For example,this inventing envisions rigid plastics, rigid metals, or a combinationthereof for the grips, housing, supports, frame, pulleys, and the like.

It will be realized that the foregoing embodiment of the presentinvention has been shown and described for the purposes of illustratingthe functional and structural principles of this invention and aresubject to change without departure to such principles. Therefore, thisinvention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit andscope of the following claims.

1. A forearm exercise device comprising: a first grip assembly; a secondgrip assembly; a threaded rod; a tension means; the first and secondgrip assembly connected by threaded rod and tension means whereincounter rotation of first and second grip assemblies increasesrotational tension of the device.
 2. The forearm exercise device ofclaim 1, wherein the threaded rod has a groove ratio of about 12 toabout 20 grooves per inch.
 3. The forearm exercise device of claim 1,wherein the threaded rod has a groove ratio of about 16 grooves perinch.
 4. The forearm exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond washers are made of nylon.
 5. The forearm exercise device ofclaim 1, wherein the first and second washers are made of Teflon.
 6. Aforearm exercise device comprising: a first grip and a second grip; afirst hub and a second hub; a compression spring and a threaded rodwherein said threaded rod is inserted within said compression spring; afirst washer and a second washer, wherein said first washer and secondwasher engage the threaded rod and the compression spring at oppositeends.
 7. The forearm exercise device of claim 6, wherein the threadedrod has a groove ratio of about 12 to about 20 grooves per inch.
 8. Theforearm exercise device of claim 6, wherein the threaded rod has agroove ratio of about 16 grooves per inch.
 9. The forearm exercisedevice of claim 6, wherein the first and second washers are made ofnylon.
 10. The forearm exercise device of claim 6, wherein the first andsecond washers are made of Teflon.
 11. A forearm exercise devicecomprising: a stand up frame, a first pulley, a second pulley, a weightsupport, a first grip, a second grip, a drum, and a cord, wherein saidcord is attached to the weight support, fed through the first and secondpulleys, and wrapped around said drum such that rotation of first gripand second grip wraps the cord around said drum and elevates the weightsupport.